The First time I thought I had something going on within my digestive system was on a School trip to Nepal when I was 17. Along our trail to the Anapurna Base Camp I suddenly was burping a sulfur (bad egg) taste into my mouth and low and behold I was very sick for a day. At 17 on a trip with all your friends this was terrible (I still remember missing out in washing off in the waterfalls as I was lying down in a hut rather than the tents!)
Since then (17 years later) I still get that trademark sulfur ‘burp’ before being sick. It is only ever normally for a day, 2 at the most that I am ever sick and there has never been any real obvious cause. Whilst researching this what has constantly reared its head is Helicobacter Pylori (H-pylori). I have heard of this bacteria and know it is pretty common and is know to be one of the causes for peptic ulcers. Having never had symptoms of this myself and being sick once or twice a year I decided that I would try and heal my digestive system (which does have other symptoms of weakness). Balancing bacteria has always been a big part of this. I now make Kefir and Kombucha which we as a family consume daily and my digestion has taken a huge leap. Also see My Journey with fermentation.
I recently was generously gifted a session on the BioResonance Machine for my birthday. Along with my various digestive symptoms I have also always had a middle band weight gain. I have always held my weight in the middle- even when I was teaching 10 spin classes a week! I have also always had blood sugar issues and am very sugar sensitive. Emotionally I am also very sensitive, have a very short fuse and get distracted easily. When I found out according to the machine that I appear to be sensitive to almost everything- it did not surprise me.
Of course one of the things that came up was good old H-pylori. So what is it and what can I do to finally be rid of its negative effects? 100% naturally.
H-pylori is a bacteria which was discovered in 1982. Unsure as to how it works most believe it is transported into the body through food or water.
It survives in between the mucous membrane lining your digestive system and the stomach lining. In cases of ulcers it allows the mucosal layer to be digested or thinned thus revealing the stomach lining beneath which becomes irritated in the acidic environment and may causes sores or ulcers. It can also cause inflammation thus causing Gastritis symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, bloating and burping). It can cause havoc every now and then depending in the external and internal environment of your body. It may thrive in those with low stomach acid, which is why it is also connected with women with severe morning sickness whilst pregnant. It has even now been implied into the rising numbers or Diabetes sufferers. It may even be present in those infants presenting with colic symptoms.
Interestingly as with most bacteria’s including Candida, H-pylori is in fact necessary to the body. Dr. Blaser an expert on H-pylori is finding that it is protective against asthma and allergies (especially in children) and has an interesting audio file about the Possible long-term consequences of overuse of antibiotics.
Most individuals who manage to maintain normal stomach acid levels are generally asymptomatic and don’t develop ulcers or gastritis unless they damage their stomach with stress or lifestyle changes (alcohol, smoking, medicinal and recreational drugs, Coffee consumption, oral contraception pill, calcium and magnesium supplementation not in absorb-able forms) Factor believed to aggravate stomach lining and stimulate H. Pylori, thus causing symptoms.
Most people will respond to natural ways of treating this problem. Pharmaceutical medicine will use antibiotics and beta blockers sometimes in their regime. However by employing simple changes to your diet you could also alter the environment it thrives in whilst preserving it in adequate levels to help with its health promoting attributes. Using some simple nutrients;
Turmeric;
In particular curcumin (the part that make turmeric yellow). According to a study done in 2005 (source) Turmeric is the most efficient way to kill H-pylori.
“followed by cumin, ginger, chilli, borage (also known as Starflower oil), black caraway, oregano and liquorice. Moreover, extracts of turmeric, borage and parsley were able to inhibit the adhesion of H. pylori strains to the stomach sections.”
Cinnamon;
especially Cinnamomi Ramulus (the cinnamon trees young twigs as found in TCM (source) The study showed strong antioxidant activity and cell toxicity towards H-pylori and also help adjust stomach acid levels without upsetting and ulcers.
Coconut oil;
Studies suggest that the fat in coconut oil has an anti-microbial effect on H-pylori;” H. pylori is rapidly inactivated by medium-chain lauric acid esters” (source- pg 8)
Olive oil (source)
Using a cold pressed oil on salads or dressing vegetables (not cooked with)
“phenolic compounds in extra virgin olive oil had strong antibacterial effects against eight strains of H. pylori, including antibiotic-resistant strains.”.
Bromalein:
As found in pineapple. This makes sense as bromalein as an enzyme can help promote gastric juice and balance natural acidic levels in the stomach
Mint;
Menthol has a strong stimulating action on the digestive system and may causing a small anesthesia of the gastric mucous membrane.This is beneficiary in acute symptoms of gastritis and peptic ulcers. It may also stimulates the bile secretion and helps the digestion of fats also promoting elimination.
In my quest for digestive balance and strength whilst continuing to breastfeed my 1 year old I am oil pulling with coconut oil, using Kefir and Kombucha in a daily basis, including turmeric in my ginger and peppermint teas, foods and increasing other nutrients such as cinnamon, oregano, chili and cumin. I am also using homeopathy, massively reducing sugar and grains for a few weeks, eliminating eggs, gluten and dairy and having further treatment on the BioResonance machine. See the coming weeks for my other parasite and bacteria I am tackling on my quest (including candida)
Scientific pictures found;
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHelicobacter_pylori_diagram.png
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHelicobacter_pylori%2C_Gastric_Mucosa%2C_H%26E.jpg
Resourses
Along with links supplied I also used
